Harmon Karman vs. Bang & Olufsen

[kanvas]

Only M cars come equipped with ASD?

[elisiX]

Can't say for sure, but my M50d has fake exhaust pumped into the car and it sounds like crap. Though, perhaps better than the diesel.

Originally Posted by JNoSol

I wouldn't say it sounds artificial, it just sounds like your windows are down when it's up. Regardless, many don't like the sound coming from the speakers.

My Audi SQ5 had the sound pumped into the car, again faked, but it sounded good. At times I could switch to comfort though just to stop the 'noise' inside the cabin.

Sounds like ASD off is definitely a good move, whether its down to making your HK/B&O sound better or not.

[TallTrees]

Originally Posted by Talltress

Just tried FLAC this morning, it does indeed work and sounds fantastic. Next test would be to see if it will play 24bit FLAC! I don't have any music in 24bit yet but going to work on getting something to test it out. My only fear is the quality may be so good I may never be able to go back to regular recordings.

To answer my own question for those interested in hi res audio. The F15 plays 24Bit FLAC and 24Bit surround sound perfectly. Color me impressed. I'm now in the process of converting my entire music collection to FLAC. The system can read a 128GB USB3 drive formatted NTFS so space is no longer an issue for me.

You can find hi-res test FLAC's here if you would like to test yourself.
http://www.linnrecords.com/linn-down...testfiles.aspx

[lofrese1]

I went back and fourth between getting the B&O. I had B&O in a loaner X5 I received from my dealer. It is noticeably better then the Harman Kardon system. But not 3,700 better. It was between the B&O system and the dynamic handling package and I think I made the right choice the Harman Kardon is plenty enough for me it does lack in the bass department but hopefully the Ghost Subwoofers fix that. Take the money you would spend on the B&O and get DHP. That's just my 2cents.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by elisiX

My Audi SQ5 had the sound pumped into the car, again faked, but it sounded good. At times I could switch to comfort though just to stop the 'noise' inside the cabin.

i don't want to derail the thread but you could disable the feature through VCDS/VagCom.

[CFoote]

B&O is really over-priced for what it is - let's put it this way, BMW was offering SPIFFs to client advisors if they sold a car with a B&O system. There is some huge markup here and B&O has always been a company with over-priced gear.

Having said that, as others have mentioned, if you like the system then go ahead and spend the money. I am really hoping that Bowers and Wilkins trickles down the line as it is being used on the new 7 series. That company is way ahead of B&O in research and design.

Chris

[1230vani]

I will order it again, not sure of the effect wit replacing woofers with Ghost or Bav sound (not sure if that is the same). This thread got me thinking though, i really like the bass and it is impoortant for me. I also like them speakers visually. Mid speaker does buzz at times, each time i take it to the dealer (car still under warranty) it is buzz free of course. I mostly listen to flac files.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by CFoote

That company is way ahead of B&O in research and design.

BW is a great system but sadly in the XC90 you cannot appreciate it because of all the rattles and resonance found in the interior body panels. hopefully this is not an issue with BMW and their BW systems.

[ibeararms45]

I went with the standard Hi-Fi...............

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by Talltress

To answer my own question for those interested in hi res audio. The F15 plays 24Bit FLAC and 24Bit surround sound perfectly. Color me impressed. I'm now in the process of converting my entire music collection to FLAC. The system can read a 128GB USB3 drive formatted NTFS so space is no longer an issue for me.
http://www.linnrecords.com/linn-down...testfiles.aspx

Cool, thanks. I've always been an MP3 guy myself, simply because any car I was in didn't support better audio (or the interface was more user-friendly with an iDevice). What's the average size then of an album in 24bit FLAC then? 400MB? Does iDrive recognize and search the files as well as it interfaces with an iPhone? Thanks

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by jcfay

Cool, thanks. I've always been an MP3 guy myself, simply because any car I was in didn't support better audio (or the interface was more user-friendly with an iDevice). What's the average size then of an album in 24bit FLAC then? 400MB? Does iDrive recognize and search the files as well as it interfaces with an iPhone? Thanks

Dont know about file size, but i record them USB. Artwork also does not always work. Sound is better. Idrive works, you can search and so on

[mhsmhs]

For example:
last Adele album (25) in FLAC has 350MB, and it is 16bit :-)

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by mhsmhs

For example:
last Adele album (25) in FLAC has 350MB, and it is 16bit :-)

wow, so I'm guessing 24bit would be at least 500? I've got to read up on FLAC. It'd be worth it to at least have a selection of super high qual albums to really test out the B&O with (especially now that I've had stupid ASD disabled)...

[mhsmhs]

TIDAL is good source for high quality music, but I'm not sure that there is also 24bit...

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by mhsmhs

TIDAL is good source for high quality music, but I'm not sure that there is also 24bit...

Are you using TIDAL? I can't imagine trying to stream lossless music over a cellular network, so I'd want to use the offline mode. Just curious as it might be kind of cool to try.

[Alex S.]

I noticed that HK compresses the output signal (sound) starting at the 40% of available level (volume). Not good. it has to be a really well mixed/mastered audio for HK to reproduce it well.

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by Alex S.

I noticed that HK compresses the output signal (sound) starting at the 40% of available level (volume). Not good. it has to be a really well mixed/mastered audio for HK to reproduce it well.

Whoa, that ain't right. How did you notice this?

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by jcfay

wow, so I'm guessing 24bit would be at least 500? I've got to read up on FLAC. It'd be worth it to at least have a selection of super high qual albums to really test out the B&O with (especially now that I've had stupid ASD disabled)...

yes. absolutely or purchase a traditional cd (not home burned) for a quick test.

i have a small cd book i keep in the car and move from car to car sometimes just because these songs/bands/musicians sound much better than in MP3 format. some people goof on me and ask if i have cassettes hidden in the car too but i guess vinyl guys get some "flac" (wokka wokka wokka) for it too.

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

yes. absolutely or purchase a traditional cd (not home burned) for a quick test.

i have a small cd book i keep in the car and move from car to car sometimes just because these songs/bands/musicians sound much better than in MP3 format. some people goof on me and ask if i have cassettes hidden in the car too but i guess vinyl guys get some "flac" (wokka wokka wokka) for it too.

Well I've moved over to FLAC and find the difference to be substantial. My MP3 library is only minimally compressed, but for some music like you say the difference in sound is awesome. That's on the B&O. Of course I've also noticed a buzzy mid range in the rear passenger door that's now going to drive me bonkers if I don't get it fixed. Ridiculous, on a brand new car...

[Max_M]

Just get the BO....it really nice in terms of centre speaker... I didn't do it as I was not prepared to spend EUR 3,000 additional on it.

Instead I took the 40D over the 30D. The car Hifi can never beat my hifi at home anyway.

[elisiX]

I don't know how they justify charging $10,000 AUD for B&O here. It's just not worth it.

At $3,000-$5,000, I might just tick the box.

[Alex S.]

to jcfay
Just by listening - the mp3s and radio sound really compressed beyond some 40% of available level boost. And I know this is what the speakers are doing as i can switch to a well mastered audio and it sounds much better - i guess mp3 and flac files should be rendered using pro AD/DA converters.

24 bit files is a great news, I'd pay double if the original files were recorded, mixed and mastered in 24 bit and offered at some 48 kHz and above. Unfortunately, many 16 bit CDs are rendered to 24 bit and sold as if they are HD, which is not true.